Serbian protests in northern Mitrovica conclude against opening Ibër Bridge

Several hundred Serbs have gathered across the Ibri Bridge on the northern side of Mitrovica to protest the opening of the bridge that divides the town ethnically into two.

This in light of the announcement for fact conducted by the Kosovo government that the bridge will open daily until its technical-infrastructural assessment is carried out.

Protesters held banners like “If Kurt opens the bridge, KFOR and QUINT will be responsible”, “as long as the EU and the US write statements, Kurti is dismissing us”, etc.

On the ground are Kosovo police who were declared to expect no incidents jointly with EULEX and KFOR patrols.

Through Serbian news agency “Tanjug” this protest was announced against opening Ibri Bridge last night without citing any information.

Then he mentioned Serbia's own President, Aleksandar Vuciq, that there would be an anti-opening Ibër Bridge rally, even claiming that “counter-residence” of Albanians organised by Agim Bahtiri on Kurti's orders.

To then medium “KoSSeV” announced that Serbian citizens across the bridge had started accepting messages on their phones to participate in this protestor.

Only after this turn of events had Kosovo police received notice that there would be protests in the northern half of Mitrovica.

At this key speaker's protest was former Judge at the North Mitrovica Court, Nikola Kabashak, who dropped dramatic tones of official Serbian propaganda for allegedly targeting Serbia's “ethnic cleansing” from those areas.

“Either we get organized or we get kicked out. I have nowhere to go, but I'm not going. I plan on living and dying here. And none of Serbia can come to live here, or take children to school. We have to do this, rely on ourselves. So we are gathered here today. Because, for Svechla, we're all the same.”, he said.

“The municipality (of North Mitrovica) cannot have this power (for opening the bridge) because it is illegal and does not represent people here. The message we want to convey is that we have no problem with Albanians. They work here, no hair has been touched. Good for them, good for us. The road to reconciliation is trade”, he said.

Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Svka, staying in Mitrovica yesterday, said “The bridge will open... no reason to open” until the final opening said the issue belongs to expert assessment.

The technical and infrastructure assessments for measuring the stability of the Ibër Bridge have already begun.

QU INT and KFOR have been firmly declared that they do not support changing Ibër Bridge status for the time being, while tones for permanent, fixed” on the bridge have also been hardened.